Arizona Grapples with Severe Flooding as State of Emergency Declared
In a decisive move to combat the effects of historic rainfall, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has declared a state of emergency, releasing $200,000 in emergency funds to aid flood response and recovery. The state has been inundated with floodwaters after experiencing 72 hours of relentless rain starting on October 30.
Several counties, including Apache, Gila, and Yavapai, along with Camp Verde, Prescott, and Sedona, have issued their own emergency declarations. Notably, Sedona ordered mass evacuations on Sunday morning when Oak Creek Canyon was overtaken by flooding. Other areas such as Winslow, Cottonwood, and Camp Verde also face evacuation orders.
The storms have affected seven counties and five tribal nations across the state. The Arizona Department of Public Safety is actively involved in conducting swift water rescues and managing evacuations to ensure resident safety.
Flooding has led to the closure of multiple highways, including State Route 87 near Winslow and State Route 89A between Sedona and Kachina Village, as indicated by Arizona Department of Transportation.
With the Arizona Department of Transportation overwhelmed by the need for debris clearance, traffic management, and other response efforts, assistance from the Federal Highway Administration has become necessary.
The allocated state relief funds are directed to the Arizona Division of Emergency Management to strategize an effective response and recovery plan, as outlined by Governor Hobbs through official channels.
